Québec’s Digital Economy: Outlook 2030

Executive Summary

Québec is a significant player in Canada’s digital economy, employing over half a million technology workers, or about one-fifth of the country’s total tech workforce. Central to Québec’s strengths are Montréal and Québec City, which accounted for 61% and 6% of the province’s information and communications technology (ICT) job postings, respectively, from January to December 2024. Québec’s digital economy is bolstered by foreign direct investment and its innovation hubs, which serve as the backbones of its interactive digital media sector and artificial intelligence ecosystem. 

Despite the province’s numerous strengths, it faces a cooling ICT job market marked by declining research and development spending, increasing ICT unemployment rates, and reductions in the number of ICT job postings. While demand for tech talent surged early in the post-pandemic period, recent data indicates that Québec’s ICT labour market has transitioned from favouring job seekers to favouring employers.

Due to these challenges, future growth scenarios vary significantly. In an optimistic projection, ICTC forecasts that Québec’s digital economy could create up to 196,400 jobs by 2030, whereas a pessimistic projection suggests a potential annual decline of 0.4% in the digital economy. All projections underscore the importance of an increase in research and development investments and technology adoption across sectors.

If Québec is to continue on its growth trajectory, it will be important to strengthen its ICT talent pipeline to ensure businesses have a skilled workforce that can achieve innovation, commercialization, and productivity objectives. Work-integrated learning programs, such as co-ops and internships, may be the solution: ICTC finds that they provide clear benefits for both students and employers. While students acquire real-world experience, employers gain access to a continuous talent pipeline.

However, more can be done to increase the adoption of work-integrated learning programs to maximize the advantages they provide for students, employers, and Québec’s digital economy, including raising awareness of wage subsidies and addressing employer concerns about the supervisory costs associated with WIL initiatives. 

Québec’s role as a pillar of Canada’s digital economy depends on its ability to assess its challenges and leverage its many strengths. Strategic policy actions that encourage increased research and development investments and technology adoption, enhance Québec’s talent pipeline, and further establish Québec as a vital player in securing Canada’s digital advantage are crucial for fostering a digital economy that addresses the rapidly evolving needs of employers and job seekers alike.